HotTopics: Harnessing The Data Explosion - Rich Data Eyes Information Provider Databases

Data has become increasingly important as the Web has opened up the floodgates of data capture, creation, and delivery. This HotTopics looks at various new flavors of data, including what is called 'rich data' assets. It describes the factors contributing to the data explosion, provides examples of traditional and newer data players, and notes the steps that information providers and publishers can take to harness this data explosion. It highlights one key area in this respect

- data about the buying process. As more buying behavior is directly observable in real time, marketers have gained the ability to tweak and adjust their campaigns. Buying-process data has also given rise to many of the new-generation firms that focus on capturing buying data in their niche fields. The HotTopics describes both traditional players with formidable data assets already in place (such as VNU, McGraw-Hill, IMS Health, IHS Engineering) and new-breed data collection and analysis companies (Current Analysis, GlobalSpec, Health Grades). A third group of companies is capitalizing on their ability to track Web traffic and transactions (comScore, Zoom Information, Compete). The HotTopics includes a table of 'rich data' companies and a list of essential actions that provides advice for publishers and information providers who want to harness the data explosion in their own businesses.